Joseph a



(No Model.)

J. A. MUMPORD. LUBRIOATOR FOB, STEAM ENGINES.

Patented July 8, 1890 awe/d UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. MUMFORD, OF HANTSPORT, NOVA SOOTIA, CANADA.

LUBRICATOR FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,704, dated July 8, 1890. Ap'olication filed May 10, 1889. Serial No. 310,300. (No model.)

and exact description of the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention has for its object to provide I an improved lubricator for the piston of vertical steam-engines such as usually employ whatis known as a trunk-piston or enlarged downwardly-extending cylindrical portion-in which the end of the connecting-rod is pivoted, particularly single-acting engine's working directly on the crank-pin, the object of the invention being to provide a lubricator which will insure the equal distribution of the oil around the entire circumference of the piston in the most advantageous position to prevent wear from side-thrust, and, if desired, act at the same time as a most efficient trap for any steam or water of condensation which may work past the packing-rings just below the working-face of the piston.

The invention to these ends therefore consists in forming an annular chamber entirely around the cylindrical enlargement or trunk and connecting said chamber with a suitable oil-supply and trap for the water of condensation; and it further consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter described, and pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

I11 the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of an ordinary single-acting engine such as is in common use having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view 'of another form of engine having the invention applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the annular oil-chamber. Fig. 4 illustrates another adaptation of the invention.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

The type of engine to which my present invention isnnore particularly adapted for application is represented in Fig. 1, A indieating the cylinder in which works the piston and trunk B, the latter being elongated and of substantially the same diameter from top to bottom, with the lower portion hollow, constituting the trunk for the reception of the end of the connecting-rod O, which is pivotally mounted therein, preferably by means of a cross-pin D, the ends of which are supported in the walls of the piston.

The lower end of the connecting-rod preferably works directly on the crank-pin; but as the particular features of this part of the engine form no part of my present invention, I have not deemed it necessary to show the same, and will only state that the said parts may be similar in all respects to those in common use.

In the wall of the cylinder, below the point which the upper end of the piston reaches when at the lowest extreme of its movement, is formed a chamber E, extending entirely around the piston and having a port F communicating with the exterior of the cylinder.

In addition to thecustomarypacking-rings G at the top of the piston, I preferably provide packing-rings G at the bottom, which prevent all liability of the oil or water escaping below the piston. It is obvious, however, that these last-mentioned packing-rings may be in the wall of the cylinder instead of in the piston, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1, in which case it wouldnot be necessary unless desired, to extend the bearing for the piston so far downward.

An oil and water receptacle is located at the month of the port F,'consist-ing, in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of a downwardly-extending portion or trap H, in which the water of condensation leaking or being forced out between the cylinder and piston is caught, and an cscape I for the water, the level of the mouth of which preferably determines the height at which the water and lubricant shall stand, the said escape of course drawing the water from the bottom of the receptacle, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 3. In the top of the receptacle is an exhaust or vapor pipe K, which serves to conduct awayany steamleaking into the annular chamber above the lubricant, and failing to condense, as will be readily understood, thus absolutely preventing the escape of any steam or water below the piston.

In Fig. 2 is shownaform of engine inwhich the trunk or downward extension is of less diameter thanthe piston proper, and in which packing-rings K are arranged in the cylinder around the trunk, the annular chamber and reservoir being essentially the same as in the form shown in Fig. 1, save that the escape for the water is at one side, so as not to appear.

By collecting the water of condensation and locating the escape at the proper level the lubricant is floated in and around the trunk, no matter howlittle of it there is leftin the chamher; and, further, where the piston is lubricated, as is frequently the case, by means of lubricant passed in with the steam, the chamber serves as a collector for such lubricant, separating the same from the water of condensation and applying it at the point most subject to wear from the side-thrust of the connecting-rod.

The annular chamber, it is obvious, may be formed in any suitable manner, if desired, as shown in Fig. 1, directly in the wall of the cylinder, or, as shown in Fig. 2, wherein a separate extension is secured beneath the cylinder proper and the annular chamber formed in the top of the extension.

It is obvious that the trunk B on which the piston-rod is pivoted need not form a direct elongation of the piston, but that it may be connected thereto by a connecting-rod, as shown in Fig. 4:, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the prime object of which is to apply the lubricant evenly over the surface of the trunk in position to be of the greatest benefit in preventing wear from the side-th rust of the connecting-rod.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. I11 a steam-engine, the combination, with the cylinder, piston, and cylindrical trunk having the connecting-rod pivoting therein, of the annular oil-chamber surrounding said trunk, a vapor-pipe open to the external air and communicating with said chamber, and the packing-rings below said chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a steam-engine, the combination, with the cylinder, thepiston having the downwardly-extending enlargement or trunk and the connecting-rod pivoting therein, of the annular oil-chamber surrounding said trunk, and the trap for the water of condensation communicating with said chamber, substantially as described.

In a steam-engine, the combination, with the cylinder, the piston having the downwardly-extendin g cylindrical portion or trunk and the connecting-rod pivoting therein, of the annular oil-chamber surrounding said trunk, the trap for the water of condensation, and the vapor-pipe for conducting away the steam entering said chamber, substantially as described.

4. In a steam-engine, the combination, with.

JOSEPH A. MUMFORD.

Witnesses:

W. M, CHRISTIE, C. B. NIcoLsoN. 

